Hello friend,

I hope you've had a good week.

I've been prioritising rest this week (in other words, taking my own advice). Annoyingly, I've had another cold; my second in six weeks. While I am frustrated by the impact the cold has had on my half marathon training, I am listening to my body. I'm also adjusting my race goals a bit. It doesn't matter how long the half-marathon takes, I just want to do the distance and enjoy the experience. And ideally, not come last 🤣

That being said, spring really is "in the air" in my part of the world, and that has made everything feel considerably better. The birdsong outside my window this morning, as I type, is glorious.

I have a cracking digest for you today (more rest = more time for trawling the internet for goodies), so let's get to it...

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✏️ Doodle Essays

This week's doodle essay is a reflection on how we see the world through the lens of our nervous system.

When we feel under threat, we are in a reactive state, and are likely to respond to a challenge defensively. In a reflective state, we might respond with greater curiosity, form connections, and use logic. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this idea after reading the essay. As always, feel free to reply to this email or comment on the post.

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📚 Read

Here are some articles from other creators I thought you might enjoy:

• Thanks to my friend and email newsletter reader, Andy, for sharing this article on "phantom obligation" by Terry Godier. I've started identifying a big list of phantom obligations after reading this.
• ​This short essay from Gina Trapani nicely articulates the idea that focusing on maximum productivity can inhibit creativity. My interest in this area continues to grow (especially in the way it links to traditional goal setting versus experiments).
• Kate Sotsenko from The Good Busy reminds us in this article that "productivity starts with energy" and suggests ways music can help.

I've just switched my "What I'm Reading" database from Tana to Notion, as it looks a little nicer and is more user friendly. I've only had a chance to add my 2026 books so far, but at some point, I will update it with last year's reading too.

Here it is: Martine's Library.

Please feel free to duplicate the database and use it as a template, if you'd like to.

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📺 Watch

​This was an interesting watch (it's fair to say I felt seen and somewhat validated for struggling to specialise in just one thing):
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🎧 Listen

These two podcast episodes are worth a listen:

• ​"And it went click"—Dawn of the Working Dead (Cautionary Tales)
• ​Professor Tim Spector: I was wrong about Vitamin D & sunlight! The 7 health habits he's changed his mind about (Zoe Podcast)*

*I will be going to see Tim Spector speak at Guernsey Lit Fest next month and it is fair to say I am pretty excited!

I am also still really loving The Book Club podcast and fancy reading (or re-reading) a few classics. Any recommendations?

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That's all from me today. Have a great week, and I will be in touch again next weekend.

Best wishes,

Martine

P.S. If you enjoy my newsletter and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. It’s always appreciated but never expected.

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